2025 04 17
A mysteriously artificial man in Alton, Illinois. March, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
In search of Robert Wadlow in Alton, Illinois. He still exists within the photons of light residing in the cells of our brains.
-Clayton
2025 04 16
Studio plant. See You Soon, Chicago, Illinois. March, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Haven’t had any spare time to write lately, which has been bumming me out. I think that’s a good thing, though! The part about me wanting to write, that is.
A few months back I had a story idea that came to me in a dream. I’m convinced it was delivered to me by creative powers beyond my comprehension and that my lack of action in writing the idea will lead to undesired consequences, such as the withholding of future divine inspiration.
-Clayton
2025 04 15
A house in winter. Chicago, Illinois. March, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Sometimes my inner voice just tells me I need to make a photo of something. This house was one of those instances.
As I was making this photo, a man walked out of the front door to grab the mail.
“I like your house.” I told him, to take an edge off of the awkward moment.
“Really?” he asked, calling my bluff. “It’s probably going to be for sale soon.”
I told him I already had a house as I walked off, regretting not asking him a dozen other questions (why are you selling? where are you going? how did we get here?).
Curiosity is how I got here. I know that much.
-Clayton
2025 04 11
Another Busted Car. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Some days you find the Busted Car, and some days the Busted Car finds you.
-Clayton
2025 04 07
Haley, somewhere in northern Illinois. December, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
I started an account on the new Foto app. While I’m not super optimistic it will become the next big thing in photography sharing, I do like what they seem to be trying to do. Social media has transformed drastically since the innocent early days of Instagram, and I’m finding myself less interested in again reshaping instant-gratification-based phone apps and more interested in slow & steady approaches, such as this here blog and my new site, everyoneisfamous.
All that said, there is no doubt in the potential power social apps hold, and I’m simultaneously finding myself considering a much-reluctant sign up to Tik Tok, as my career pivot will be far more reliant on consistent eye balls than it had been previously. And TikTok is where the eye balls are.
Anyway, if you do happen to be on the Foto app, give me a follow @claytonhauck (be my tenth friend)! The devs will apparently be rolling out a web-based presence later this year, which might be a nice compliment to the mobile app, which has been enjoyable in my experience thus far.
-Clayton
2025 04 04
Car. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
There’s this car on my block that I have obsessively been making photos of. I don’t know enough about cars to know why I like it, but I think it’s a Japanese import, and I love the old-school lines. This is one of the pictures I made, edited in a style that I don’t normally do. The digital grain melting into the fine snow particles is nice, I thought.
-Clayton
2025 04 03
Some days you just need a flower. Chicago, Illinois. September, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Some days you just need a flower. I spiraled last night, attempting to understand how and why we got to where we are; playing the victim and rolling out middle class-ending taxes to somehow level the global playing field? It’s just madness! But the more you pay attention, the madder you get.
Then, my friend reminded me:
Wisconsin voters showed we are not alone in opposition
Give it time and many more voters will see the madness with their own eyes
Of course, economics are wildly complex and I myself am sympathetic to some of the motivations Trump seems to be justifying his actions on — but I can’t help but think the middle class will again pay the price. We paid for globalization through the hollowing out of our cities and now we’ll pay for deglobalization through a complete loss of purchasing power.
It’s impossible to maintain a functioning economy when there’s zero clarity or confidence in what environment you will be navigating a year or two down the road. Should I get into textiles or tech? I have no idea. Maybe you do?
-Clayton
2025 04 02
Allison, wondering how long I will be looking at used photobooks. Powell’s Books. Chicago, Illinois. September, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Today is officially the day we started a photobook shop. Or, at least, committed to a popup to explore the idea of starting a photobook shop! You gotta pop it up first to gauge interest, learn, and grow into what will hopefully be a physical location one day. More on this soon, hopefully!
-Clayton
2025 03 30
Life finds a way. Wilmette, Illinois. January, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
The birds are chirpin’. Spring is here. Maybe.
-Clayton
2025 03 29
Bridal shop. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Don’t tell anyone but I added that blurred out person using generative Ai. I snapped this image as I was driving by in my automobile and I kinda liked it… but it needed some mysterious human energy involved.
The recent release of GPT 4o or whatever it’s called has me moving up the expiration date for my job. If anyone is hiring a college dropout, please let me know!
-Clayton
2025 03 26
The city at night. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Recently I was downtown for an event and afterward, I made an effort to wander a bit. The streets were eerily silent. I dipped into Billy Goat for a burger and a beer along with the three or four other humans (more staff than guests) who seemed to be out, for whatever reason, either running away or towards something.
A great idea then struck my brain: I would get a scooter and ride home like the wind. This led me astray in search of one when the big lights in the distance caught my eyes. “Hooter’s,” it said. Not yet having my fill of adventure, and recalling the news of the likely demise of yet another fine American establishment, I stepped in.
“Seat at the bar okay?” I asked the greeter (again, more staff than guests), and she motioned me inward. The wings came soon after and boy did I wonder why the joint wasn’t full of customers enjoying them. These things are delicious! I kicked myself for being too timid to frequent Hooter’s all my life for the wings alone.
I left as they were locking up. The man alone at the bar turned out to be an undercover security guard or manager, as I suspected (more staff than guests). I guess everyone gets their wings delivered to them from some other chain these days?
Across the street sat a fully charged scooter glowing in the darkness with my name on it. I rode like the wind just as I’d imagined I would, turning here and there into which ever dark street didn’t look familiar. This was an adventure and I had the city to myself. All the way home I rode and contemplated how cool it would be to start a scooter gang. Surely, this must be how the first gang was formed way back before the police cornered the market on gangs.
-Clayton
2025 03 25
Hawk? Chicago, Illinois. February, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
I’ve been seeing this guy around the neighborhood lately.
-Clayton
2025 03 23
Jack and I enjoyed one too many adult beverages. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Jack and I might be cooking something new up. This year is shaping up to be a transformative one for me in many ways. More soon.
Also, Jack has a new photobook out that is great and you should check it out and buy a copy. We might be able to help you with that soon.
-Clayton
2025 03 22
Armitage Avenue, in need of some new shops. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2025 © Clayton Hauck
Why I’m such a sucker for tiny shops like this one, I don’t fully understand. But this lil spot is so cute that I’ve been dreaming of putting a business inside of it for more years than I can remember. One day, perhaps.
-Clayton
2025 03 21
Good Boy wants to go outside. EZ Inn, Chicago, Illinois. February, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Open yourself up to chance.
Today I walked to work, as I usually do, and I took a different path than usual, as I always try but usually fail to do. As a reward, I ran into a friend and got to hear about her trip to Europe. I then encountered some animals and made a few photos of scenes I encountered.
Then, as I ate my lunch at the studio, this Alec Soth video (below) played.
Open yourself up to chance as often as you can and rewards will follow.
-Clayton
2025 03 20
Cone in snow. Chicago, Illinois. February, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Please pardon the dust as I spend my time building yet another new website and prep for a photo talk going down next Thursday, in which I will debut said website.
-Clayton
2025 03 19
Beer. Chicago, Illinois. June, 2023. © Clayton Hauck
Got some shit news today. Imagine taking a test that your life literally depended on. I realize I’m being vague but can’t really get into it more than that (I’m fine).
I’m reminded of that famous joke from The Simpsons. "Beer: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.”
Stay safe and stay healthy, y’all.
-Clayton
2025 03 18
Doggie Day Care. Baltimore, Maryland. September, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Apologies for the lack of content lately, I’ve been busy starting a new business.
-Clayton
2025 03 09
Sunset on Bloomington. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Chicago’s weather today was glorious. The first nice weekend day where everyone leaves the house and it makes the city feel alive with energy and humanity. It’s days like these that make me glad to live where I do.
-Clayton
2025 03 08
(Hidden) Busted Car. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
While out celebrating my birthday yesterday, I realized that my driver’s license had expired that day. Needing to drive to St Louis for a photo assignment in a few days, I was worried that getting this renewed in time would not be possible (also considering the state had determined I needed to pass a written test to do so). Fortunately, I spent Saturday afternoon at the DMV and made it happen after an hour or so of sitting in the waiting room listening to numbers being called.
Afterwards, we celebrated with pizza at Barnaby’s up in Northbrook, which has been on our list of spots to check out. The pizza was great and the place was wildly crowded with families enjoying an early Saturday night pizza dinner. As we ate, numbers were called out continuously as orders were ready, which made the whole experience feel appropriate post DMV.
-Clayton